POP-UP PRESS
Rheb’s Candies: Get ready to stock up on Christmas confections while visiting the annual holiday train garden at The Shops at Kenilworth this season. Rheb’s Candies, the venerable Catonsville shop which recently celebrated its 100th birthday, is running a pop-up inside the mall throughout the holidays. The Rheb’s team has chosen a variety of its favorite sweets—including truffles, chocolates, fudges, and jellied fruit slices—to showcase at the new stall, which sits in between South Moon Under and Italian Gardens Restaurant on the first floor. The Shops at Kenilworth, 800 Kenilworth Drive, 410-321-1909
The Verandah: R. House has seen a lot of firsts this year. On the heels of celebrating its first birthday, the Remington food hall is hosting its inaugural Indian food vendor. Hampden hotspot The Verandah will set up shop in the market’s designated pop-up stall until Sunday, December 17. Be on the lookout for authentic street fare including samosas and traditional dosas—savory rice and lentil crepes served with fresh chutneys. 301 W. 29th St., 443-347-3570
OPEN
Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls: This Annapolis-based seafood spot recently made moves North, joining the likes of Atwater’s, Hex Ferments, Neopol Smokery, and Ejji Ramen inside Belvedere Square Market. Inspired by the ethos of Maine’s lobstermen, the eatery offers hearty rolls served both classic (warm with melted butter) or salad (chilled meat with mayo, celery, and lemon) style. The menu also spotlights hearty soups like a lobster bisque and classic clam chowder. 529 E. Belvedere Ave., 410-464-9773
Piazza 27: Mt. Vernon locals are already raving about this new pizza palace, which opened on the corner of Cathedral and Read streets earlier this month. The pages-long menu lists salads, subs, strombolis, pastas, and pizzas with tons of toppings ranging from a classic margherita to chicken-bacon ranch. The BYOB spot offers dine-in service and also delivers via Grubhub. 900 Cathedral St.
COMING SOON
Palio: Highlighting everything from salads and smoothie bowls to barbecue and Korean fried chicken, the Foundry Row development in Owings Mills already boasts plenty of variety. Next year, there will be even more to choose from when this Tuscan trattoria opens its doors. Slated to open early 2018, the Michigan-based chain will offer traditional Italian fare including antipasti, an array of pasta dishes, and flatbread pizzas. The bar menu will be equally expansive, with local beer, craft cocktails, wine, and grappa—distilled brandy made from grape skins that have been pressed to make wine. 10100 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills.
DONUT DISPATCH
Full Circle Artisan Palace: Though we were sad to see Center Cut Doughnuts go last month, another shop is ready to fill the hole that it left behind. Local baker Courtney Fix—who previously worked in the same space when it operated as B. Doughnut—has teamed up with fellow dessert fiend Heather Cedeno to open this new sweets shop in Hampden on Saturday, December 16. Full Circle—named after Fix’s return to the building—will offer classic doughnuts, as well as fun twists like doughnut buns, cinnamon rolls, and a signature jelly-filled doughnut-muffin hybrid. The duo plans to serve both sweet and savory options, as well as seasonal specialties including Berger Cookie, French toast, and espresso flavors. 3528 Chestnut Ave.
Sundays: In other doughnut news, this long-awaited sister-spot from the team at Dooby’s in Mt. Vernon has finally found a home inside Cross Street Market. The long-term pop-up will offer its sweet brioche doughnuts (think inventive flavors including French toast, boozy eggnog, and raspberry-almond), as well as savory breakfast and fried chicken sandwiches. The opening comes in the midst of the market’s multi-million dollar renovation, which is slated to be complete by 2019. “When I was a kid in ’90s, I used to run between the stalls when we visited family friends who operated a number of the shops,” said owner Phil Han in a statement. “It’s going to be an adventure watching this market evolve, and I’m sure those same family-friends will pay us a visit to see how it’s changing.” 1065 S. Charles St.
EPICUREAN EVENTS
12/14: Taste of Everyman
This food-pairing program at Everyman Theatre continues with a special cocktail competition before tonight’s performance of The Revolutionists. To complement the comedy about four women living during the French Revolution, Everyman is hosting a “Battle of the Female Bartenders” that will pit industry veterans Chelsea Gregoire, Amie Ward, and Pam Haner against one another. Fittingly, there will also be plenty of Marie Antoinette-inspired sweets to go around. 315 W. Fayette St., 6 p.m., $30-60, 410-752-2208.
12/17: Chad Gauss at Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar
Hard as it is to believe, the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar is hosting its final event of the season under the JFX this Sunday. To make the most of the last market until spring, organizers are bringing in chef Chad Gauss of The Food Market to perform a special cooking demo inspired by his new cookbook The Food Market at Home. If you can’t make it to the market, Gauss will be whipping up his signature amish pretzels with beer cheese at a signing at Whole Foods in Mt. Washington at 12:30 p.m. Corner of Holliday and Saratoga Streets, 9:30-11 a.m.